New York Cracks Down on Puppy Mills with new ban on retail pet sales

 

New York’s Puppy Mill Pipeline Act Takes Effect December 15

This Christmas, the familiar question “How much is that doggy in the window?” will no longer be heard in New York. On December 15, the state’s Puppy Mill Pipeline Act goes into effect, banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. These animals are often sourced from large-scale breeding operations known as “puppy mills,” where the health and well-being of both animals and parents are sacrificed for profit.

Signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in December 2022, New York becomes the sixth state to enact such a ban, aiming to curb the rampant animal cruelty associated with puppy mill suppliers.

Puppy Mill Puppies and Parents Suffer

Most puppy mills are in the Midwest, where puppies are taken from their mothers at too young an age, often with no genetic screening and minimal veterinary care. These puppies are then transported long distances, making them prone to diseases such as parvo, pneumonia, and hypoglycemia. Meanwhile, their parents remain trapped in tiny, decrepit cages, forced to breed continuously.

Left: A puppy mill breeding female dog who has raised many litters.

Some mills use “red door feeders” that limit the dogs’ access to humans, providing a week’s worth of food at a time. In 2021, there were over 10,000 licensed and unlicensed puppy mills in the U.S., breeding more than two million puppies annually.

It took animal advocates five years to pass this legislation in Albany. Retail pet stores that continue to sell pets after December 15 could face fines of up to $1,000 per violation. However, New Yorkers can still adopt pets from incorporated humane societies, animal rescues, or licensed breeders.

Pet Store Puppies Do Not Come from Responsible Breeders

Pet shops have had two years to adapt their business models, yet some Long Island store owners still claim the law is a surprise. These retailers often insist they obtain puppies from responsible breeders. However, responsible breeders do not sell puppies to pet stores.

Above: Red door feeders in puppy mills contain enough dogfood to last a week.

Breeders who care about animal welfare carefully screen for genetic flaws, educate potential owners, and often require contracts ensuring that they will take back any puppies if necessary. The price of a well-bred dog from champion lines can be lower than that of a pet store puppy, which may come from irresponsible breeding practices.

Under the new law, pet stores can still charge reasonable rental fees to rescue groups for space to display pets for adoption. This could benefit rescue organizations that lack physical shelters and rely on foster care for adoptable pets. Meanwhile, retail pet stores that previously sold pets will close or shift focus to selling pet supplies, grooming, or boarding services.

A Kinder Pet Store Model

Major pet store chains like Petco and PetSmart have long adhered to a rescue model. Neither store has ever sold puppies or kittens. Instead, they offer their locations as adoption centers for shelters and humane groups at no charge. For example, Last Hope Animal Rescue operates two Petco and two PetSmart adoption centers, where cats and kittens stay until they find homes. The stores provide food and litter, while Last Hope volunteers care for the animals and coordinate adoptions. Additionally, Last Hope dogs visit the stores one weekend a month for adoption events.

This model also works on a smaller scale. In the 1980s and ‘90s, volunteers with the League for Animal Protection (LAP) operated out of a small pet food and grooming store, “Pet Paws,” in Lindenhurst. LAP cats were placed in foster care, while dogs were fostered or boarded at animal hospitals. Adoption paperwork and calls were handled at the store, where certain cats and kittens were brought for adoption when ready.

Libby Post, director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation, said the new law provides pet stores with an opportunity to rebrand themselves as humane businesses. “This retail rescue model enhances public relations”. Adopters of shelter animals from these stores often become lifelong customers for pet food, training, daycare, and grooming services. Pet stores profit, and the cruel practices of puppy mills come to an end.

As the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act takes effect, New York hopes to set a precedent for other states to follow, ending the cycle of animal cruelty in the pet trade once and for all.